australian television information archive

Chopper Squad

Pilot (90 min)
November 05, 1976 (Melbourne)
Written by Everett de Roche
Directed by Simon Wincer
Produced by Roger Mirams

The inaugural day of the Surf Rescue Service proves to be a busy one — one of the crew is trapped by a bushfire with a dangerous criminal escapee, while the others deal with a stoned hang-glider violating air space over Sydney airport.

Starring: Dennis Grosvenor as Jebbie Best, Robert Coleby as Barry Drummond, Eric Oldfield as Phil Hardy, Rebecca Gilling as Georgia Batie, Graham Rouse as Roly, Tony Hughes as Tim Lynch, Tony Bonner as Frank

With: Hugh Keays-Byrne as Syd Tasker, Terry Camelleri as Bill Cox, Max Osbiston as Rodney Coombs, Vincent Gil as 'Captain Doo-da', Kevin Healey as Tony, Gordon Piper as Detective

Something To Shout About

Episode 1.01
June 10, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Ron McLean
Director: Pino Amenta
Producer: Howard Leeds

A speed boat is running dangerously wild after a man collapses, leaving his girlfriend helpless at the controls; a girl has an epileptic fit while climbing outside the hideaway of a popular rock group trying to catch a glimpse of the lead singer; Georgia has to treat a man who has suffered a severe coronary; and Rodney Coombs' niece arrives at the club, and comes into conflict with Roly when she starts a prolonged campaign to admit female members to the club, culminating in a rescue attempt which nearly goes tragically wrong.

Starring: Dennis Grosvenor as Jebbie Best, Robert Coleby as Barry Drummond, Eric Oldfield as Phil Hardy, Graham Rouse as Roly, Jeanie Drynan as Georgia Batie

With: Christine Amor as Lauren Karlene Rogerson as 'Patches' Catriona Brown as Beth Jon English as Macky Vincent Ball as John Williams Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen Willie Fennell as Rodney Coombs Johnny Pace as Charlie Tracey Lee Cecily Ann Slade

Cliff Rescue

Episode 1.08
April 14, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Bob Caswell
Director: Howard Rubie
Producer: Howard Leeds

A father and son are trapped on a cliff face; a swimmer is caught in a rip; a parachutist is seriously injured after landing in a tree; and a man's speed boat explodes along with a basketful of money, leading to a dangerous encounter with criminals.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Special Guest: Willie Fennell as Rodney Coombs

Guest Stars: Bruce Barry as Bruce Smart, Chantal Contouri as Janie Smart , Lynette Curran as Cheryl Falconi, Henri Szeps as Falconi, Craig Berry, Alexandra Hynes as Ruth, Greg Kelly as Sandro Falconi, Warwick Sims as Walter

Surf Carnival

Episode 1.03
May 12, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Colin James Directors as Igor Auzins, Graeme Arthur
Producer: Howard Leeds

A near drowning follows a wipe out at a surf carnival; an old man falls down a cliff and is seriously injured, his dog preventing anyone from coming near; a girl attempts suicide after losing a beauty contest; and Barry gets fuel in his eyes and is blinded flying the helicopter.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Suzanne Church as Sue

Guest Stars: Anne Lambert as Marilyn Brendon Lunney as Boyfriend John Fegan as Red Simmons James Moss as Ranger

A Dream Before Dying

Episode 1.04
May 27, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Tony Morphett
Director: Howard Rubie
Producer: Howard Leeds

A man with a rare blood type is injured, and the only donor refuses to give up a winning position in a yacht race to help; two men lie injured at the foot of a cliff with an incoming tide; a diver contracts the 'bends'; and a rock climber has a heart attack, and he and Georgia are in danger on a crumbling rock face.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Special Guest: Willie Fennell as Rodney Coombs

Guest Stars: Joan Bruce as Mrs. Hayle, Colin Croft as Dave Freebold, Alwyn Kurts as Richard Hayle, Peter Whitford as Charles Roberts, Maggie Blinco as Babette Roberts, Kristen Mann, Reg Sweeney, Roger Ward as Security Guard

Psychotic Lady

Episode 1.05
April 28, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Colin James
Story: Colin Eggleston
Director: Simon Wincer
Producer: Howard Leeds

Barry is threatened by a psychotic girl he rescues, Tim is hit by a speeding boat driven by drug smugglers, and a fisherman is swept off some rocks into a treacherous underwater cave.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Special Guest: Willie Fennell as Rodney Coombs

Guest Stars: Elizabeth Alexander as Francis Carter, Anne Haddy as Iris Grey, Ric Hutton as Dr. Regan, Terry Peck, Bill Charlton, Bob Hicks, Rangi Nicholls as Rangi, Malcolm Thompson as ?

The Drifter

Episode 1.06
June 17, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Tom MacLennan
Story: Keith Hetherington
Director: Julian Pringle
Producer: Don Battye

An old man takes his asthmatic granddaughter up the coast in an old sailing boat, but when the boat capsizes and he is rescued, he refuses to disclose the whereabouts of his granddaughter. A bushwalker is bitten by a snake; and two yobbos steal the Surf Rescue jet boat.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: John Ewart as Bushwalker, Angela Gauchi as Christina, Alex Hay, Scott Phillips, Terry Bader as Jack, Alan Cinis, Georgina McLoughlin as Cheryl, Don Quin as Henry

Lifeboat

Episode 1.07
November 12, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Bruce Wishart Story: aRon McLean
Director: Rod Hardy
Producer: Don Battye

Barry saves the life of a deaf woman who is being pursued by two blokes who killed a service station proprietor during a robbery. The squad engages in a major bushfire rescue, and Jebbie has to spend the night on a drifting boat with four feuding people.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: Max Cullen as Harry, Joanna Lockwood as Jan Cummings, Stephen McDonald as Wayne, Hazel Phillips as Maureen McNair, Greg Apps as Robber, Beverley Blankenship, Gary Gray as Toby, Keith Lee as Andrew McNair

Long Weekend

Episode 1.08
June 03, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: John Bramley
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

A boy is trapped in a collapsed sand tunnel at the beach, and his young friend feels responsible and runs away. Phil and Sue, on their day off, are on hand when a singer is injured by broken glass thrown at an outdoor concert. Later they are first at the scene of a car accident on a lonely bush road.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: Carmen Duncan as Gary's wife, Maureen Elkner as Carmel, Tim Eliott as Martin, Donald MacDonald as Gary, Simon Pearce, Candy Raymond as Lindy, Shane Aspin, Alan Becher, Normie Rowe as David, lan Smith, Adrian Wright as Tony Cochran, Suzanne Church as Sue [uncredited], 'Chalice' as themselves [uncredited]

A Pride Of Lions

Episode 1.09
April 21, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Ross Napier
Director: Simon Wincer
Producer: Don Battye

A ranger in a lion park has a spasm and wanders off in a delirious state, and Phil and Jebbie are in danger when they drop down near a lurking lion to rescue him. Jenny Martin, a model and friend of Jebbie's sister, is seriously injured while swimming to get away from a lecherous photographer on a boat.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: Leon Gregory as Glen, Lorna Lesley as Gail, Victoria Quilter as Jenny Martin, Mark Allen, Peter Bensley as Vince, Mervyn Drake as Jim John Kelly, Suzanne Church as Sue [uncredited]

J Is For Julie

Episode 1.10
May 19, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Don Battye Story: Ron Ely
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

Julie, a student journalist, blunders into a situation and saves the day when a man threatens to tip another man out of his bulldozer over a cliff. Later Julie and Georgia just happen to be on hand when a girl is injured on a paddle steamer.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: Anna Hruby as Teenage Girl, Margie McRae as Julie, Don Barker as Cliff Jackson, Mike Preston as Jim Hayes, Tony Barry as Steve, Suzanne Church as Sue, Micheal Duffield as Captain, Samantha Cox as Young Girl, Robert Alexander as Policeman 1, Peter Corbett as Policeman 2, Nicholas Frazer as Policeman 3

Dangerous Operation

Episode 1.11
June 24, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: John Bramley Story: Tony Morphett & Lyle Martin
Director: Simon Wincer
Producer: Don Battye

Two amateur sailors in a boat drift dangerously close to a reef; former Surf Club member Dave Evans, injured and confined to a wheelchair, has to face his fears; a windsurfer is hit by a boat and badly injured; and Georgia has to perform a dangerous operation on a child in a lighthouse.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: Ben Gabriel as Lighthouse keeper, Greg Kelly as Daryl Evans, Anthony Martin as Tony, John Orcsik as Dave Evans, Brian Wenzel as Boater 1, Brian Anderson as Boater 2, Faye Anderson as Lighthouse keeper's wife, Bronwyn Clarke as Karen Julie Dawson as Anne Evans, Anthony Novak as Bob

Dangerous Weapon

Episode 1.12
May 05, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: John Bramley
Director: Graeme Arthur
Producer: Don Battye

Two young children are lost in the bush with their father's .22 rifle; and two criminals have abducted a young woman.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Noel Trevarthen as Dr. Edward Allen

Guest Stars: Belinda Giblin as Gail, Marcus Hale, Lionel Long as Father, Richard McFarlane as Simon, Bill Peters, Denyse Baillie, Brian Blain as Criminal 1, Tina Bursill as Mother, Barry Donnelly as Criminal 2, Andrew Giles as Grant

The Farewell

Episode 1.13
November 19, 1978 (Sydney)
Writer: Don Battye
Director: Simon Wincer
Producer: Don Battye

A hoaxer plagues the chopper squad; a bomb is dropped at sea; a mother and her son nearly drown; two criminals on a boat have a fight and one is shot; Georgia is leaving for New Guinea; and Roly dies of a heart attack.

Featuring: Tony Hughes as Tim Gray, Suzanne Church as Sue

Guest Stars: Serge Lazareff as Criminal, Lex Marinos as Hoaxer, Clive Hearne as Police Sergeant, Richmond [Bill] Young as bomber, Martin Harris, Alyson Best as Penny, Tom Churchill-Brown, Anne Grigg as Mother